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The Azkals are without most of their usual starting XI in a 2-0 loss to Perth Glory FC in a friendly on Tuesday night in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. Dante Peralta

THE Philippine men’s football team gave Perth Glory FC everything it could handle before surrendering a 2-0 decision in their friendly on Tuesday night at the Quirino Stadium in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.

Despite being without almost half of their usual starting XI, the Azkals held the top Australian side scoreless in the first half, before giving up two goals after intermission, including the second one deep in stoppage time to absorb the shutout loss.

Joe Knowles and Richard Garcia struck the goals for the visitors in the friendly that didn't fall in a Fifa International window, which didn’t compel clubs, like Ceres-La Salle, to release its players for national duty.

That left the Filipino booters with a young squad led by Misagh Bahadoran and Phil and James Younghusband under stand-in coach Aris Caslib.

Still, the Azkals put up a decent defensive stand against an A-League side in a match that formed part of the Filipinos’ early preparations for the Suzuki Cup in November.